Goa Cong submits report on Cortalim by-poll fiasco

Panaji: Goa Congress leaders on Monday submitted a report about Cortalim by-poll fiasco -- where the party candidate withdrew from the fray paving way for unopposed election of BJP`s Alina Saldanha -- to the high command.

Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) president Subhash Shirodkar said that the investigation report was submitted ahead of today`s meeting of the Congress Working Committee in the national capital.

"I can`t discuss the details of the report but it does dwell on the reasons why and how the official candidate withdrew from the fray without taking party into confidence," Shirodkar said.

GPCC President denied that the report proposes expulsion of few prominent party leaders for allegedly engineering the withdrawal in connivance with ruling BJP.

"No expulsion is recommended," Shirodkar said.

The Cortalim by-poll was scheduled for tomorrow. But on May 21, Congress`s Raymond D`Sa and independent candidate Ramakant Borkar withdrew from the fray. D`Sa alleged that the Congress leaders in Goa did not provide him necessary support.

Congress then formed a committee comprising Shirodkar, Leader of Opposition Pratapsingh Rane, former Chief Minister Digambar Kamat and a legislator Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco to look into the episode.

All India Congress Committee General Secretary, Jagmit Singh Brar, who is Goa desk in-charge, had alleged that BJP masterminded the withdrawal by threatening the Congress candidate.